New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-10
PUBLIC POLICY AND BUSINESS PROS
PERITY

The old-fashioned Democrat who condemned
tho Wing National Administration of his day
because there were no cells in the eel-pots that
year has some imitators in the men who at
tribute every sign Of National prosperity to
the wisdom of President Cleveland's Admins
tlation. That Administration earned more
credit for its conduct of the finances, While
Mr.. Manning and Mr.. Jordan continued to
represent in the Treasury the counscls of Mr..
Tildcn, than for any other part Of its work at
homo or abroad. Since Mr.. Tilden's ideas
were thrust out of the Administration, the
Treasury has been much more open to criti-
cism, and vet it has in many things merited
commentator But the measures and pol
icics to which the National prosperity is due.
SO far as that prosperity can be attrib to
any political influence whatever, are those OF
the Republican party, which the men now In
power have tried but have been unable to
change.
Political memories are proverbially short,
but he who wishes to know the truth can
easily get access to the public acts passed
since President Cleveland was inaugurated
Upon reviewing them let him ask himself in
what single respect, seriously affecting the
public prosperity, the financial operations OF
the Government have been changed. Not
the slightest change has been made in tho
tariff, the internal revenue or the sources OF
miscellaneous revenue. Doubtless many think
that important changes for the better would
have resulted had Mr.. Morrisons tariff bills
passed, or others favored by the majority OF
the House. But the fact is that taxation has
A. to Of Gin Ola
penny by Democratic legislation in these years.
nor by any act Of the Administration. The
Treasury has indeed to some extent increased
the revenue, by rulings under which larger for
cgn imports are admitted at lower duties than
were previously exactcd. But the laws gov
crning the collection of all taxes, the sale
keeping and expenditure of all funds, arc
those which Republican Congresses enacted
with the enforcement of Republican Presidents.
small change may be noticed in the law
which authorized the issue Of small silver
notes, in place of the small legal-tcndcrs which
the Treasury has chosen to withdraw from
circulation. The exchange, whether wise or
not, whether in accordance with the intent OF
Congress or not, has at all events been OF no
avail as a source of National prosperity. The
tenders in use, and it is at all events not
sounder now with silver certificates substi-
tuted. The Homestead law in spite Of Com
missioner Sparks's anxiety to repeal it, still
stands on the statute books. So Of other
legislation relating to the settlement Of land.
the relations between Government and rail-
roads, the grants of public lands to corpora
tons there have been much fuss and pre-
tcnce but the laws have yet to determine, as
interpreted by the courts, what grants to
corporations arc still in force.
In short, the most careful scrutiny Of
changes of law and of executive policy within
the past three years will fail to disclose any
which can be supposed to have materially
promoted business or industrial prosperity.
The conclusion will be forced upon a candid
Investigator that the continuing development
and prosperity of the country, so far as these
are in any way assisted by Government, are
due to laws passed by Republicans and en-
forced by Republican Presidents before Nh.
Cleveland was inauguratcd.